Balanced top-frame



' 5.1. KuNz. BALANCED TOP FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24| 1917.

Patented Mar. 23,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Vl TW E. v N..

kof H0 E. L. KUNZ.

BALANCED TOP FRAME. APPLICATION man 1,AN.24 191J.

Patented Marfzs, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR Www ' E.. L. KUNZ.

BALANCED TOP FRAME. f APPLlcATloN FILED mmm, 1911.

Pteuted Mar. 23, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I11211.! Jr

Il. H HHOWU.

E., L. KUNZ.

BALANCE!) TOP FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED. IAN. 24. 1917.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

mwllbsp INVEHTOR DE. 11)/ Ins atto ne.;v 96W* y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. KUNZ, OF BUFFALO, NEVI` YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 ONE HAND AUTO TOP COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application led January 24, 1917.

To all wiwi/'1, it may conce/m.'

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. KUNZ, a citizen of the United States, residingv at Bnfl'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and usetnl Improvements in `Balanced Topll`ranies; and I hereby declare that the iollmving is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompany drawings, which forni part of this specilication.

.liike figures on the drawings refer to like parts.

This invention relates to balanced top iframes ier vehicles on land or sea, particu larly to that class thereo'l' having main arms ot said frames so constructed as to overcome most oithe weight of the top frame during the various angulaipositions of said arras, from down or closed position to upright position.

One object oi' this invention is to provide a cross transmission device for transmitting the operating torce from the operators side to the opposite of the vehicle, Without the use of the cross shailit.

Another object is to provide a practical cross transmission device in connection with the said niain arms, that Will siinultane ously operate the two sides of the top traine, .troni a force applied to one side thereof.

Another object is to provide a pair of balanced arnis tor the topfranie, which will be self-contained in their operation, starting iroin nionntings upon the sides of the body o'' the vehicle, upon `which they are journaled.

A, inrther object is to provide a top traine, embodying a tanned type of lazy tongs, which shall provide spaces between the upper parts of the links of said lazy tongs, when closed, to adopt said spaces to receive the folded parts oi' a covering to said frame.

Another object is to provide a frame construction which shall. be adjustable in parts to accommodate the saine in overcoming the slack of the covering after the saine has become stretched ironi wear.

rnother object is to provide a top frame construction which shall be automatically operable separately in sections, so that one section can be closed, While the remaining section is lett open.

@ne enibodiinent oli' my invention is heres Patented Mal'. 23, 1920.

Serial No. 144,163.

after described and illustrated in the drawings. The operation is explained in what I claim and set forth.

In the drawings: A

Figure l is a side elevation oi': the car body showing a top lfrance embodying my invention attached to said body showing one section ot said frame open and its adjoining section closed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot' the top ilranie and body shown in Fig. l, but in i'nll open position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the inain arms shown onrnaled on lnonntings on the vehicle body.

Fig. il: is a sectional side elevation oil? one the main arms.

Eig. 5 is a sectional side elevation ot' an arm, being' a inodiiication oi that shown in Fi 4;.

'tig'. 6 shows in sectional elevation, other modification of an anni.

Fig. 7 shows a sub-shait ot one of the main arms jonrnaled with one of the inonntings.

Fi S is a large detail elevation oil-v one ot the ear links showing elastic means as Well as the tru'n-lnickle, for taking up the slack in the cable cross transmission.

Fig. 9` is a :tragniental plan of the top traine, showing the crossing` of the cables in the transmission, inlaid in the cross rib, connecting the niain ari'ns.

Fig. l0 is an enlarged view oil: part of the lralne, showing an adjustable feature adapted to position one olr the cross ribs on said. iframe, for taking up the slack in the covering.

Eig. 1l is a top plan ol? the parts shown in Fig. 10.

Fig.u 12 is a side elevation of the windshield and post attachment, showing connection with the liront ot the ytop traine.

Fig. 13 is a diagram giving an idea of the development ot the link arrangement of the lazyton,e;s. producing a fanningi` ont of the upper pivotal ends of the links, to make room for the iii-folding of the top coverings.

Fig. I--l is an elevation oil? a holding bracket in which the top traine rests, when folded back.

Referring to the figures, apen the body l, is a bracket 2 having a stub shaft 3, upon which is jonrnaled a inain arin el. Upon the opposite side ot the vehicle is a like arm,

similarly journaled on a stub shaft, upon the bracket on the body 1. The main arms 4, 4 are connected at their tops by a cross rib 5. Extending to the rear of each of the arms 4 are lugs 6, to which are pivoted the ends of the diagonal bow 7. Connecting the body l, with the upper part of the bow. 7, and a cross rib 5, is shown the band 8, which is continued forward toconnect other cross ribs of the ktop frame.

To each of the main arms 4, is connected a lazy tong set of links, comprising the following parts: a link 9, pivoted at the point 10,.to the upper part of one of the main arms 4. To the link 9 is pivoted the link 11 at the point 12. The link 11 is pivoted at the point 13 to the ear link 14. The link 11 is pivoted at the point 15 to the link 16, and the link 16 pivoted to the point 17 to the link 18, and the link 18 is pivoted to the point 17 to the link 18, and the link 18 is pivoted at the point 19 to the link 9. The link 2O is pivoted at the point 21 to the link 22. The link 20 is pivoted at the point 24 to the link 18. The link 22 is pivoted at the point 23 to the link V16. Common with the pivot point 15V of links 11 and 16, is the pivot point of the cross ribs 25 adjustably positioned by the engagement of the set screw 26 with the link 16. (See Figs. 2, 10 and 11.) Similarly at the point 24 of the link 18, is pivoted the cross rib 27, adjustably positioned by means of the set screw 28. To the forward extension 29, of the link 20, is rigidly fixed the cross rib 30. This cross rib 30 is also rigidly connected to an extension of a link on the opposite side oli the vehicle.

similar to the link 20. Referring to the front end of the top frame, there is shown fixed a bracket 31, te which is pivoted an extension 32, having a socket in the end thereof, fitting the arrow-head ond of the holding rod 33. The rod is clan'lped with the extension 32, by the hand screw 34. The rod 33 is connected with the wind-shield 35 by means of the clamps 36 and 37.

Referring to the internal construction of the arms 4, 4, beginning at the stub staft 3, of each arm, there is fixed thereto,`a short post-bracket 41, projecting at an angle thereto, positioned within the housing 42. A set screw 43 fixes the post-bracket 41 to the stub shaft 3. The post-bracket 41 remains in a fixed position with respect to the body 1. To the post-bracket- 41 is attached the flexible metal band 44, which passes over a roller 45 on the postbracket 41.

The metal band 44, )asses over the round piece 45, and around tie hub of the toothed Wheel 46, journaled in the post-bracket 41. The lnetal band 44, is attached to the hub of the Wheel 46. A screw 47, is positioned on post-bracket 41, to engage the teeth of the wheel 46, to hold theA same from turning in the square recess 48. The wheel 46 is adapted to engage a key for turning the same. In adjusting the tension on the band 44, the screw 47 is removed to allow the wheel 46 to be freely turned and repositioned to fix the said wheel in an adjusted position. rlhe band 44, passes around a. roller 49, pivoted within the housing 42, ol5 the arm 4, and passes up from the point 44 in cable form through a spring 50, and is connected with a washer 51, on the upper end of the spring 50. The spring 50, is seated on an inturned flange 52, in the lower end of the tubular portion 53, of the arm 4. The washer 51, has a hole through which passes a cable 54.

N ow tracing the course of the parts form` ing the cross-transmission device, starting with the cable 54 in the rear of the arm 4, passing down through the spring 50, the cable 54 connects below with the sprocket chain 55, which chain engages the sprocket wheel 56, and passes up through the tubular portion 57, of the arm 4, and is fixed to ther sliding bracket 58, within the ear link 14. The bracket 58, is limited in its reciprocal movements by the pin 59, fixed transversely in the ear link 14. To the upper end of the bracket 58 is attached the spring 60, fixed also to the thini'ble 61, which is made integral with the ear link 14. Passing through the upper )art ef the thinibie 61 is an eye bolt 62, adjustably fixed thereto by thc nuls 63 and ln the eycei, of the bolt 65.2. is fixed they cable 66. which passes up through the portion 57, of tl e arm 4, over rollers 67, 67, journaied in the cross rib 5. The Cable 66 continues through a channel 68, in tho cross rib 5, over to thel opposite end ol the cross rib 5, to engage rollers 61). on the rear side of the cross rib thence, down through ay tubular portier 53, in one of the. main arms Li. passing through a. spring similar to 50 in the first mentioned arm l. connecting with a chain sinrilar to the chain in the arm 4. which chain passes up through a portion of the arm similar to the portion 57 of the arm 4, connectiimI with a link simin lar to ear 14, continuing on with u. cable similar to 66, connected with an eve holt similar to 62, passes up over rollersl 70. in the arm 5, through a channel 68. and diagonally across said cross rib 5. engaging rollers 73, 73, liournaled in the curved portion ol' the cross rib This cable next passes down through the tubular portion 53. ol'l the arm 4, as cable 66. and connects with the sprocket chain 55. complet-ing` the continuous fermation of the cable cross-t1ansniission. lu each of the sprocket wheels 56` there is a polygonal socket ad apted to be engaged hv u crank for turning said sprocket wheels.

On opposite sides of the rear of the bod): 1, are fixed resting brackets 74--74- in which the top frame is yeleasabl'v anchored in ih down position.'

.l (it) llt) cyr

'l il ln Fig. 4, the band 44, is shown attached to the upper end of the spring 50, holding the spring 50 incompression-` In Fig. 5, a band 44h, similar to the band v1l- 4, is shown attached to the lower end oi'r the spring 50E', which is anchored at its upper end to the pin T5, in the arm 4, holding the spring 50 in tension. A further modification of the intornai construction of the arm 4, is shown in the arm 4b.

ln Fig. (i, the spring 50, is held,k at its upper end against the stop 7o, and its lower end engages a washer 77, which iorins a bearing plate ior the convex expanded end ot the strut 78, adapted to rock on said y'asher 77. This strut 7 S is pivotally connected with the post-bracket 41".

Considering' the operation of the top iframe, referring to Fig. 1, the parts thereoi are shown in dotted position at 79, anchored down in the bracket 74. The full line position oi? the arm 4, and the links attached thereto, lshows the position which the parts assume when released from the bracket 74, and easili,T pushed up by hand, the weightot the parts being overcome by 1n sans ot the springs shown in one of the Figs. 4, `5 and G, whichever construction is used.

(.onsidering the action oit the spring 50, in balancing the weight upon and including the arm 4, referring to Fig, 4, the upright position. oi the arm 4 is shown. The arm 4, being` jonrnaled upon the fixed stub shaft El, causes an increase in distance between the roller 49 and the member 45, on the postbracket 41, compressing the spring 50, by pulling upon the washer 51, to which the band 44, is attached. The spring being thuscoinpressed as the arm 4 attains the downposition, there is a tendency to draw the roller 49, and the member 45 together, to raise the arm to its upright position, and overcome the weight thereof. The amount o i'i compression required in the spring 50, tor overcoming the weight ot the arm 4, and the parts attached thereto, is adjustably fixed by turning the wheel 46, after relcasin g the screw 47, and thereafter fixing the position of the wheel 4G, by replacing thescrew 47.

In Fig. 5, an adjustable take-up is not shown in connection with the post-bracket 41a 'for the band 44h, which is attached` direct to the end ot' the post-bracket 41a. The band 441 passes around the roller 49 and is attached to the lower end of the spring 50a.

The action oit the parts within tliearni 4", shown in Fi g. 6, illustrated in the dotted down position oil the parts wherein the spring 50" is shown additionally compressed by having been `forced inward,by the strut 78. during the downwardmovement oi" the arm 4l to the dotted position.` 4The strut TS being pivoted to the iixed post-bracket,41,17 and the shaft 3 beingI the center of oscilla tion of the arm 4, the strut necessarilyY findsy play for its movement within the arm 4bby compressing the spring 50', and causing alii'ting movement.

Referring now to the extended dotted po sition of the links ot the lazy-tongs.` as shown in liig. l. a counter-clockwise turning ot the lower .sprocket wheel 5b also F ig'. 4) by a suitable crank, will cause the cable 6G `to raise the ear link 14, lifting the lower end ofthe link 11, which in turn pushes up the link 9, turning the same to extend the lazytongs to the dotted position thereot as shown, and a continued movement will cause the links to assume the full line position ot the parts, as shown iny Fig. 1.

Co1isidering the operation of the cross cable transmission, as the ear link 59, passes up, the cable 71, moves up and crossing over the top oit' the cross rib 5, over rollers 70, passes down on the rear side ot' the arm 41, through the balancingr spring similar to 50 ot Fig. 4, connects with thechain similar to 55, passing around a sprocket similar to on, and up to an ear link similar to 59. The line extends on upward over roller (5S, and `returns diagonally across the cross rib 5, and the channel 69, over rollers 70.

Referring to the adjustable i'eature for taking up the slack in the cable 'for the cross transmission, in Fig. 8, the spring G1, always in tension, is adapted to take up some of the slack that might occur in this transmission dei'ice, but the turn-buckle (33, can be ea'lj'ustabl),T iixed in the thiinble G2, by means ot the nuts G4 and 65, to tighten the cable 67.

Considering the development of the an like relative positions ot the center lines ot the links ot the lazy tongs when brought together, the diagrammatic illastration in Fig. 13, wherein the Vertical line 14", represents the path ot the pivot point 14", of the link 1l, the center line ot `which is repre4 sented by the bent line 11". The center line ot the link 9, represented by the bent line 5), the point l( reln'esenting the pivot point oi the link t), on the arm 4. Sonie point A, on the` line 14", is selected as a center, troni which radiate the lines B, C, D and E, 1

On the line angularly spaced about equal. B, is the pivot point F, of the line 9", corresponding to the link 9. Other pivot points lr and H, positioned on the respective lines C and D, equidista-nt with the point F, 1

from the center A, determine the position oit similar pivot` points in the lazy tong traine. 0n the arc 1, are equalli7 spaced pivot points J', K, L and M, corresponding to the pivot points at the respective crossings ot the Various links. 0n the arc N, are equallyrspaced the pivot points O, P and Q, on the respective lines B, Gand D. It is readily seen by this arrangement that 4the spacing between the consecutive pivot points lll) i a e -C and D, with respect to the center A. As

the point 14s,: is moved up on the line I4", toL the position 14, theV lines indicating the center line of the links will take. the re-` spective positions 90,11", 16C, 18, 20C, 22C, 20d and 22d, (the eXtra lines 20d and 22d showing an extension of the system beyond that required for the number of links shown in Figs. l and 2)v whereby as the point 13, moves up on the line 14h, the pivot points O, P and Q, and the point R, will increase their relative distance apart, and be/on the arcs of circles of greater and greater diameter, until the arc S, is reached. Where the points F, G and I-I, consecutively spaced equal Vto thespacing of the pointsA O, P and Q, in such an lextension the arc S, would be a straight line, but by conforming to some such radial arrangement all lines similar to B, C and D, pass through pivot points in the lazy tong construction. IVe thus systematically arrange'the fanning out of the upper parts of the links, and provide spaces for receiving the folded covering of' the top frame.

By having 'the rear part of the top frame fully up and the lazy tong part `folded, as shown in Fig. 1, with this form of construction, one has the Victoria style of top.

vIn cases where the upper part of the wind-shield is curved and not adapted vto radially` receive the end of the extended top frame, the rods 34, are provided, and may be clamped permanently at 37 and 38, leaving the frame releasably attached by means of the part '33, andthe screw 35; oritl desired, the rod 34, may remain fixed in the vpart 33, and be releasably attached at the clamps 37 and 38, and carried back with the frame when the same is bolted. y.

For adjustably taking up the slack coming from the stretching of the covering, the cross ribs 25 and 28, to which said covering is attached, are angularly adjusted, with respect to the respective points V15 and 24,

. through the agency of the adjustable screws 26 and 28, respectively.

vvModifications of my invention other than shown in the one embodiment herein illustrated, may be made in the construction without departing fromthe spirit and scope Vof said invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be confined to the one form shown herein.

Hence I claim: 1. In a top frame adapted to be attached to the body of a vehicle, a bracket fixed on one side of said body, a stubshaft'made integral with said bracket Y and extending transverse to the plane ofthe side ofv said body, a short post-bracket extendin at right angles from the'end 'of said rstub s aft and .made integral therewith, a swinging arm j ournaled upon said stub shaft and having a cylindrical chamber open toward the journaled end of said arm, a compression spring positioned in said chamber and having its swinging end fixed to said arm, strut means connecting the lower 4lree end of said spring with the outer end of said postbracket, whereby a swinging movement of said arm causes said spring to press upon said strut to counter-balance the weight o'" said arm when swung back.

2. In atop frame adapted to be attached to the body of a vehicle, a pair of brackets mounted on either side of said body, ay main arm connected to each oil said brackets andl arms and to said line in each of said arms,

for simultaneous movements in one direction with respect to said` arms.

3. In a top frame adapted to be attached to the body oi a vehicle, a member pivotcd on said body to swing thereon, an eXtensible set of lazy-tong links having one link thereof pivotcd to said member, a sliding element engaging said member, `for rcciprocation thereon, and having another of said links pivoted therewith, adapted to operate said links, three sets of joints connecting said links, Comprising an upper, a lower and an intermediate set, the joints in said upper set being spaced farther apart than the joints in either of the two other sets, whereby spaces are formed between the upper parts of pairs of links when said links are closed together, said links being formed so as to have spaces between thc upper parts of pairs of connected links when said links are closed together.

4. In a top frame adapted to be attached to the body of the vehicle, a bracket mounted on said body, a shaft fixed on said bracket, a post-bracket fixed on said shaft. a main arm journaled on said shaft, a spring fixed to said main arm and adapted to have its free end reciprocate longitudinally thereon, a strut member engaging the free end of said spring and said post-bracket, adapted to compress said spring when said arm is moved anglilarly, an extensible set of lazy-tong links pivoted to said arm, a pair of wheels journaled on said arm, means for turning said wheels, and a continuous cable-like line `arm and means for turning said last mentioned wheel, said links being connected with said line.

l l (l n, aL top framo :for VVeholee, adapted position and :L set of lazy tongs connected for attachment to e Vehicle body, mountngs, with each of said arms, adapted to support fixed on said body on each side thereof, e. a covering thereon, substantially as set stub shaft xed in eil-eh of said mountngs, a forth. :j pair of arms; journalod on seid stub shafts, Buffalo, N. Y., January 11, 1917.

a post-bracket Within each of said arms xed to the outer end of each of said stub EDWARD L' KUN/J' shafts, spring pressed means connected with Witnesses: 'the end of each of said post-braekets and GEORGE H. WADE,

10 adapted to balance said arms in a horizontal ANTON STEIDLE. 

